Internal-combustion engine



May 13 1924. 1,494,259

A. LOETSCHER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 18 1922 y x IVENTUR. WITNESSES 30 A. oelscner,

A TTOR/VEYS Patented May 13, 1924.

STTES eena PATEN FFlfiE.

ALVIN LOETSCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE. i

Application filed March 18, 1922. Serial No. 544,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN LOETSGHER, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident wherein means is providedfor introducing into the cylinders of the engine or into the combustiblecharge supplied thereto, a predetermined proportion of water andauxiliary air.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is automatic in operation and which operates to introduce into thecylinders or into the combustible charge a proper proportion of waterand air so as to enhance the character of the combustible mixture andminimize deposits of carbon while insuring complete combustion withmaximum eificiency.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which thesupply of Water and auxiliary air'is regulated by electromagneticmeans,under the control of and responsive to the demands of the engine,whereby the quantity of water and auxiliary air is at all times suppliedin the proper proportion.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is ofextremely simple and durable construction, reliable in operation andeasy and inexpensive to manufaoture.

Other objects and advantage of the invention residein certain novelfeatures of con struction, combination and arrangement of parts whichwill be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, reference beinghad to'the accompanying drawingsforming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating an internalcombustion engine, embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation,illustrating the valve control. 1

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shownthe preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates thecylinders of an internal combustion engine which may be of anyconvenconductors 16 tional type and which is preferably equipped with anelectric generator 6 shown as comprising a magneto but which may be adyna-- mo or the like. The magneto is driven from the crank shaft of theengine in a conventional manner as by means of the usual gearing 7. Anintake manifold 8 leads to the cylinders of the engine and is fed by aninduction pipe 9 from a carburetor 10 of stand ard design.

An auxiliary inlet pipe 11 is provided and .one end thereof communicateswith the induction pipe 9 between the carburetor and the intake manifoldand the other end of the inlet pipe 11 is flattened, as at 12, and is incommunication with the atmosphere. The open end of the inlet pipe 11 issecured by means of a clamping post 13 upon a panel 14: secured to thecrank case of the engine. A water supply pipe 15 extends between thewater jacket of the engine and the inlet pipe 11 and serves to convey asupply of water from the water jacket to the inlet pipe 11. Preferablythe pipe 15 communicates with the pipe 11 adjacent the open end thereof,as shown in Figure 2.

An electromagnet 16 is mounted on the panel 14 and the coils or windingsof the solenoid are connected in series with the generator of the engineby means of suitable An armature 17 is associ. ated with. theelectromagnet and is pivotally mounted, as at 18, upon the panel 14. Thefree end of the armature 17 is offset at an oblique angle with respectto the main portion thereof and the offset end carries avalve 19. Thevalve 19 comprises a U-shaped piece of resilient sheet metal having oneend secured to one face of the ofiset end and havingits bight or loopjust free of the offset end whereby the other leg of the U -sl1apedvalve is spring sup ported and has capacity for flexion in order that itmay snugly engage the open inlet end of the pipe 11, as clearly shown inthe drawings. It is understood that the leg adjacent the inlet pipe thusconstitutes a flat plate valve having ample area to entirely cover theopen end of the inlet pipe. The valve 19 serves to regulate the inflowof auxiliary air, as will be hereinafter'more fully de scribed.

A valve seat 20 is provided in the water supply pipe 15 and preferablytakes the .form of a frusto conical ported partition. A

valve 21 of frusto conical form coacts with the valve seat 20 and thevalve stem 22 of the valve extends down from the pipe and traverses thepipe 11, the valve stem extending through a stuffing box 23 provided inthe pipe 11 and projecting from the pipe 11 for a substantial distance.The free end of the valve stem 22 is pivotally connected, as at 24, toone end of a rocker which is pivotally supported intermediate its endsupon the panel-14, as indicated at 26. At the end of the rocker 25opposite its pivotal connection to the valve stem 22 it is pivotallyconnected, as at 27, to a lug 28 integrally formed with the armature 17.lit is to be understood that it found desirable a pin and slotconnection may be substituted tor the pivotal connections 24: and 27 ora link may be used in lieu of the lug 28. The armature 17 thus alsocontrols or regulates the valve 21, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. 1

Spring means is provided for urging the armature 17 to such position asto maintain the valves 19 and 21 in closed position and preferably thisspring means comprises a post 29 carried by the panel upon which anadjusting screw 30 is mounted. The adjusting screw 30 tensions a coilspring 31 which engages the armature for the purpose described.

In operation, when the engine is started and at low engine speed, themotion transmitted to the armature of the electric generator is ofrelatively low velocity and therefore the current delivered to theelectromagnet is of relatively small value. Consequently, the intensityof the magnetic field is not suflicient to attract the armature 17against the action of the coil spring 31 so that both the valves 19 and21 remain closed at such time.

As the speed of the engine increases it is desirable to supply auxiliaryair and water to the combustible charge to minimize carbon deposits andto insure complete combustion of the hydrocarbons and maximumetiiciency. In the present invention when the speed" of the engine soincreases, the current delivered from the generator to the electromagnetincreases in value so that the intensity of the magnetic field alsoincreases and to such a degree that the armature 17 will be attractedagainst action of the coil spring 31. This movement of the armatureswings the valve 19 away from the open end of the pipe 11 and thuspermits air to flow in through the pipe 11. The movement of the armaturealso moves the rocker 25 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2,and this move ment of the rocker is effective to open the valve 21 andpermit water to How from the water jacket through the pipe 15 into thepipe 11. The auxiliary air and water thus supplied to the pipe 11 iscarried into the induction pipe 9 wherein it mingles with thecombustible mixture and as a part of this mixture the auxiliary air andwater is introduced into the cylinders of the engine. It is understoodalso that the suction or pumping effect of the pistons operates to drawthe air and water in through the pipe 11 and this suction coupled withthe heat to which the water is subjected properly conditions the water.

If desired a shut-off valve, such as indicated at 15, may beincorporated in the pipe 15 between the valve 21 and the end of the pipe15 which is tapped into the water jacket. The shut-ofl' valve may be ofany conventional type and if desired it may be of the graduated portedtype of rotary plug valve. It is also to be understood that in lieu ofusing the water in the water jacket of the cooling system of the engine,a tank, reservoir or other suitable source of water supply may beprovided and connected with the pipe 15.

The valve 19 per se forms the subjectmatter of my co-pendingapplication, filed December 13, 1921, Serial No. 522,189.

I claim:

1. In a device for supplying auxiliary air and water vapor to aninternal combustion engine, an air inlet pipe open at one end to theatmosphere and leading to the engine. a water supply pipe communicatingwith the air inlet pipe intermediate its ends, a valve operating in thewater supply pipe for regulating the flow of water therethrough, andhaving a stem projecting exteriorly of said pipes, an air inlet valvecooperable with the open end of the air inlet pipe for regulating theflow of air therethrough, and electro- 'magnetic means for cont-rollingsaid valves including an armature connected with the air inlet valve andmotion transmission means between the armature and the stem of the valveof the water supply pipe.

2. In a device for supplying auxiliary air and water vapor to aninternal combustion engine, an air inlet pipe open at one end to theatmosphere and leading to the engine,

a water supply pipe communicating with the air inlet pipe intermediateits ends, a valve operating in the water supply pipe for regulating theflow of water therethrough, and having a stem projecting ex.- teriorlyof said pipes, an inlet valve cooperable with the open end of the airinlet pipe tt'orregulating the flow of air therethrough, andelectro-magnetic means for controlling said valves including an armatureconnected with the air inlet valve, and a rocker having one endpivotally connected to the armature and having its other end pivotallyconnected to the stem of the valve of the water supplypipe.

ALVIN LOETSCHER.

